THE Countess of Chester NHS Trust should hear this month if it is to become one of the pioneering semi-independent foundation hospitals.

Twenty-five NHS trusts across England have applied in the first wave of applications for foundation status, which will see them given greater financial control and more freedom from Whitehall.

Those whose bids have been successful are set to be given the news in mid to late January, the Department of Health said, before becoming foundation trusts in April.

The Government's flagship policy has faced a stormy ride in the past year but has been backed forcibly by Prime Minister Tony Blair.

In November, the plans narrowly scraped through Parliament after a "ping-pong" battle between the Commons and the Lords. The peers had rejected the clause on foundation trusts in the Health and Social Care Bill after it passed through the Commons by a margin of just 17 votes in the largest rebellion by backbench Labour MPs since Mr Blair took office in 1997. But the Commons sent it back with an increased majority of 41, and the Lords later accepted that MPs' views should prevail.

The plans have been opposed by doctors' leaders, unions and the Conservatives who feared it could lead to a "two-tier" health service.

But these concerns have not stopped more than 50 trusts so far applying for foundation status.

It is possible that all or none of the 25 trusts in the first wave of applications will get foundation status after an independent review.